System and method for quoting connectivity services

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer readable media for quoting connectivity services, including automatic pricing and quoting of connectivity services from multiple providers.

1 . At least one computer readable medium having instructions stored therein to cause a system, in response to execution of the instructions by at least one processor of the system, to:
 receive a request for a quote for connectivity services; and   in response to receipt of the request, facilitate automatic quoting for the connectivity services;   wherein to facilitate includes to:   determine what portion of the connectivity services a service provider can provide and at what price;   request from a first partner provider, chosen by the service provider and capable of interconnecting with the service provider, a first quote for a first remainder of the connectivity services that are not part of the portion that the service provider can provide;   request from a second partner provider, chosen by the first partner provider and capable of interconnecting with the first partner provider, a second quote for a second remainder of the connectivity services that are not part of the first remainder of the connectivity services;   return a combined quote from the first and second partner providers to the service provider; and   combine the quote from the service provider and the combined quote to produce a total quote for the connectivity services and communicate the combined quote to a party requesting the quote for connectivity services.   
     
     
         2 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein to facilitate further includes to:
 request from a third partner provider, chosen by the second partner provider and capable of interconnecting with the first partner provider, a third quote for a third remainder of the connectivity services that are not part of the second remainder of the connectivity services;   return a combination quote from the first, second and third partner providers to the service provider; and   combine the quote from the service provider and the combination quote to produce an overall quote for the connectivity services and communicate the overall quote to the party requesting the quote for connectivity services.   
     
     
         3 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the overall quote is not communicated to the party requesting the connectivity services if a hop count limit is exceeded before a quote that covers all of the connectivity services requested is achieved. 
     
     
         4 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the service provider, the first partner provider, the second partner provider and the third partner provider are virtual connectivity providers. 
     
     
         5 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the service provider, the first partner provider, the second partner provider and the third partner provider each provide connectivity services over geographically distinct areas. 
     
     
         6 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the first partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the service provider, the second partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the first partner provider, and the third partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the second partner provider. 
     
     
         7 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the service provider, the first partner provider and the second partner provider are virtual connectivity providers. 
     
     
         8 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the service provider, the first partner provider and the second partner provider each provide connectivity services over geographically distinct areas. 
     
     
         9 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the service provider and the second partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the first partner provider. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a quoting node configured to automatically receive a quote request from a party for connectivity services and automatically determine what geographic portion of the connectivity services a service provider for this quoting node can provide;   a second quoting node configured to automatically receive a request, automatically sent from the quoting node if the service provider cannot provide connectivity services for all of the connectivity services requested, for a quote from a first partner provider for a remaining geographic portion of the connectivity services that are not provided by the service provider;   a third quoting node configured to automatically receive a request, automatically sent from the second quoting node if the first partner provider cannot provide connectivity services for all of the remaining connectivity services requested, for a quote from a second partner provider for a second remaining geographic portion of the connectivity services that are not provided by the service provider or the first partner provider; and   wherein the second quoting node is configured to automatically send a combined quote for connectivity services for the remaining geographic portion to the quoting node when the first partner provider or the first and second partner providers combined can provide the all of the remaining connectivity services that the service provider cannot provide; and wherein the quoting node automatically returns an overall quote to the party for connectivity services when all of the connectivity services requested by the party can be provided.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the service provider, the first partner provider and the second partner provider are virtual connectivity providers. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the quoting node is configured so that the overall quote is not automatically communicated to the party requesting the connectivity services if a hop count limit is exceeded before a quote that covers all of the connectivity services requested is achieved. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the first partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the service provider, and the second partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the first partner provider. 
     
     
         14 . A method of quoting connectivity services, comprising:
 a quoting node automatically receiving a quote request from a party for connectivity services and automatically determining what geographic portion of the connectivity services a service provider for this quoting node can provide;   a second quoting node automatically receiving a request, automatically sent from the quoting node if the service provider cannot provide connectivity services for all of the connectivity services requested, for a quote from a first partner provider for a remaining geographic portion of the connectivity services that are not provided by the service provider;   a third quoting node automatically receiving a request, automatically sent from the second quoting node if the first partner provider cannot provide connectivity services for all of the remaining connectivity services requested, for a quote from a second partner provider for a second remaining geographic portion of the connectivity services that are not provided by the service provider or the first partner provider; and   wherein the second quoting node automatically sends a combined quote for connectivity services for the remaining geographic portion to the quoting node when the first partner provider or the first and second partner providers combined can provide the all of the remaining connectivity services that the service provider cannot provide; and wherein the quoting node automatically returns an overall quote to the party for connectivity services when all of the connectivity services requested by the party can be provided.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the service provider, the first partner provider and the second partner provider are virtual connectivity providers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the overall quote is not automatically communicated to the party requesting the connectivity services if a hop count limit is exceeded before a quote that covers all of the connectivity services requested is achieved. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the service provider, and the second partner provider is geographically adjacent to and interconnected with a network of the first partner provider.